Stylish City comfortably see off Villarreal | OneFootball

First-half goals from Erling Haaland and Bernardo secured an impressive 2-0 Champions League win away to Villarreal.

It was a mature and polished performance by Pep Guardiola's side, who continue to impress this season.

And the win on Spanish soil ensures the Blues keep up with the early league phase pace-setters after last season's frustrations - as well as extending our unbeaten run in all competitions to nine.

The game in 250 words

City were in command from the word go.

Savinho and Haaland exchanged passes that ended with Jeremy Doku half-connecting with a low shot that felt like an opportunity missed - all inside the first minute.

The Blues looked composed and were controlling much of the play, with the hosts reduced to the odd scrap here and there - so it was no surprise when the Spaniards fell behind on 17 minutes.

Savinho found the clever run of Rico Lewis and his intelligent pull back was met sweetly by Haaland to give the keeper no chance with his 24th goal for club and country this season.

Villarreal's Gueye flashed a fierce shot just wide but an equaliser would have felt harsh.

Our second of the evening would give the game a more realistic look as Bernardo's well-time run onto Savinho's cross ended with the skipper heading home from eight yards five minutes before the break.

Our second of the evening would give the game a more realistic look as Bernardo's well-time run onto Savinho's cross ended with the skipper heading home from eight yards five minutes before the break.

Villarreal improved after the restart without ever really troubling Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Savinho, impressing on the right flank, was a constant threat, while John Stones and Ruben Dias were solid and commanding at the back.

Haaland went close to adding to his incredible tally on a couple of occasions in the closing stages and was only denied a second by a superb save by Luiz Junior.

There were half-chances at either end, but City thoroughly deserved the victory against a side who sit third in La Liga and hadn’t tasted defeat on home soil for seven months.

Teams

VILLARREAL XI: Luiz Junior, Mourino, Foyth (C), Renato Veiga, Pedraza (Sergi Cardona 46), Gueye (Parejo 81), Partey, Comesana (Pérez 72), Buchanan (Alberto Moleiro 66), Pepe, Mikautadze (Oluwaseyi 66)

Subs: Conde, Tenas, Altimira, Marin, Solomon, Moreno, Akhomach,,

CITY XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol, Nico (Kovacic 56), Lewis (Reijnders 73), Bernardo (C), Savinho (Marmoush 86), Doku ( Bobb 72), Haaland (Cherki 86)

Subs: Trafford, Ake, Bettinelli, Ait-Nouri, O’Reilly, Foden

Star Man: BERNARDO

There were many candidates for the star man honours.

Savinho - who won UEFA's man of the match award - Rico Lewis, John Stones to name but three.

But a skipper's display - and a goal - from Bernardo just edges the honours.

Rico stakes claim

Rico Lewis spent much of last season as a makeshift right-back, doing a job for the team and his team-mates.

Against Villarreal he was given the rare chance to play as a more advanced midfielder - and he didn't disappoint.

A bundle of infectious energy and creativity, his ability to ghost into pockets of space resulted in an assist for Haaland's opening goal.

But his neat and clever movement and passing in the centre of the pitch was a timely reminder of what a talent he is.

And it won't have been lost on his manager.

Pep reaction

"It is a tough place to come and we played really, really good.

"At the end they had one or two chances but in general the play, it was fantastic.

"[As for Rico Lewis], ’m pretty sure when 90% of people saw the team they said why is he in there? I adore him. I’m really pleased for his game.

"Our numbers in Champions League are not bad. The team, how they are behaving and playing, makes me feel fine."

RICO LEWIS REACTION

“We felt in control for most of it. There’s always better things we can do.

“They had a few spells where we could have stopped them from having if we were a bit better on the ball at times.

“We’ve got to be harsh on ourselves; we want to win the competition. We look at the good things and the bad things. We’re happy with a clean sheet and a win.

"I think we’ve got our confidence back, that’s the main thing. When you play with confidence, there’s nothing that can stop you but yourself.

“Everyone trusts each other. The manager was saying it’s so important in this competition to get that away win early on.

“It relieves a bit of stress and puts us in good stead for the next games. It’s an important win, home or away we have to get the three points anyway.”

What it means

City move up to fifth spot in the Champions League group phase table as a result of our win in Spain.

It gives the Blues an impressive seven points from our first three games with a goal difference of +4.

With successive home games to come against German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen to come in November, it leaves City in a position of strength with only three games played.

What's next?

City return to Premier League action this Sunday as we travel to Birmingham to face Aston Villa.

The game, on 28 October, kicks off at 14:00 (UK).